Who wouldn't want to be a part of an oh-so-chic night, complete with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails? But if you're worried about the dos and don'ts of a cocktail do, put an end to your fears now.
Society hostess, life coach and grooming expert Chhaya Momaya gives you the essential 'cocktail-know-hows' so that you can sail through your cocktail evening without a glitch.
"Cocktails quite literally mean just cocktails and hors d'ouevres. But in India, we have cocktails and dinner," says Chhaya.
Party hours
7pm to 9pm are cocktail hours. Make sure that you are at the venue no later that 7:30pm. This will give you time enough to catch up with people you know so that you can mingle and network.
You may think being as friendly as possible is the thing to do. But, Chhaya warns otherwise. "Do not be a social butterfly in these dos," she says, "Give the person and yourself enough time to get to know each other better."
Chhaya walks you through the perfect cocktail evening etiquette.
- The hosts first
If the hosts are not already greeting you at their door, look for them and greet them first. It is natural for you to talk to people you know, while you look for your hosts, but try and avoid long conversations.
Politely tell them that you will be back after you greet your hosts.
- No butterflies here
When you are talking to someone, give that person your time and attention. Get to know that person a little better and then end the conversation by saying that you will catch him a little later.
- Eye contact is good
When talking to someone, look him/her in the eye. It is easy to get distracted by someone's jewellery or clothes, but stay focussed on the person you are talking to.
- Dressed to kill
Understand the dress code by asking your host in advance. If your host says that it is a casual do, ask her how many people she is expecting. A number should give you an idea of how big the do is.
PAGE_BREAK
- Bottle up
Carry a bottle of champagne or wine for your hosts. It is always a nice gesture!
Here are three top must-remember pointers for the host:
1. Stand at the door from 7pm to 8pm to greet your guests.
2. When introducing people to one another, introduce them by their full names. For instance, Mr. Pradeep Shah, meet Mr. Nirmal Momaya, CEO of XYZ. Nirmal Pradeep heads his own company ABC. This serves as a proper introduction and a perfect ice-breaker to get the conversation rolling.
3. Ensure that the music is toned down. Instrumental numbers are perfect because this way you and your guests will be able to hear each other.
Now that you are all set to throw that cocktail bash, we got three chefs to give you their cocktail recipe.
Tags: alcohol, Chhaya Momaya, cocktails, drinks, Valentine food
Rodas bartender Sanil Sudevan tells you how to concoct the perfect cocktail for your guests.
Nana Rita
Ingredients
Margarita glass
Shaker
40 ml tequila
45 ml pineapple juice
1 tbspn of banana crush
Splash of sugar syrup and lime juice
Method
Mix all the ingredients and shake it. Rim the glass with salt and lime juice and garnish with pineapple slice.
Twice as nice
Ingredients
Shaker
Martini glass
Ice 15 ml
gin 15 ml
kahlua 15 ml
Bailey's Irish cream
1 tbsp of strawberry crush
PAGE_BREAK
Method
1. Mix all the ingredients and shake it
2. Garnish with strawberry
Banana split
Ingredients
Martini glass
10-15 ml grenadine syrup
15 ml banana liquor
15 ml Bailey's Irish cream
15 ml vodka
Method
1. This cocktail is a build-it-up one. First pour grenadine syrup.
2. Hold a spoon and layer it with banana liquor
3. Follow it up with bailey's irish cream and top it with vodka.
4. Garnish with a banana piece.
Remember, if you change the order of what you pour, it will curdle.
Eric and Chandana from Renaissance, Mumbai stir it up.
Bombay Martini (Renaissance Signature)
Ingredients
45 ml Bombay Sapphire
30 ml Martini Extra Dry
3 ml green olives
Method
1. Fill mixing glass with ice
2. Mix spirits and stir 30 times
3. Fine strain in a chilled martini glass
4. Garnish with olive stick
PAGE_BREAK
Mumbai Tea (Neeraj's Signature cocktail)
Ingredients
15 mls Smirnoff Vodka
15 mls Cointreau
10 mls Tequila
15 mls Bacardi Rum
15 mls Bombay Saphire Gin
90 mls Assam Tea
30 mls Sugar syrup
Method
1. Put ice cubes in a glass
2. Pour cold tea and sugar syrup
3. Add all white spirits
4. Stir well
Teekha Peeru (Lohit signature cocktail)
Ingredients
60 mls Smirnoff Vodka
120 mls Guava Juice
10 mls Lime Juice Ice-Cubes
A dash of Worcestershire sauce, Tabasco sauce, chilly powder for seasoning
Method
1. Rim the hurricane sling glass with a mix of salt and chilly powder
2. Put 4-5 ice cubes in the glass
3. Add lime juice, Tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce and seasoning
4. Pour in the guava juice
5. Top it up with Vodka
6. Stir well
Jade (Melvy Signature cocktail)
PAGE_BREAK
Ingredients
45 mls Bombay Saphire Gin
15 mls Melon Liquer
1 mls Star Anise and black olive (made by infusing star anise in water)
Method
1. Pour the gin and melon liquer in a boston shaker with crushed ice
2. Shake the ingredients well
3. Pour in a chilled martini glass
4. Place an olive at the base
5. Garnish with star anise
RELATED STORIES
Heady tips for a rocking wine partyHeady tips for a rocking wine partyHome decor: Raising the bar
Comments
0 comment